Recently I finished reading J.D. Salinger's Catcher In The Rye. I found that book to be somewhat of a downer, and perhaps I'll talk more about that book at a later time. After finishing Catcher I began reading Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale which I was finding to be very ponderous and depressing. Then along came Talli Roland's Watching Willow Watts. I decided to take a break from the bleak Atwood tale to read Roland's much cheerier story. A delightful diversion it turned out to be.

Willow Watts is a young woman whose life has seemed to have hit a wall. After her mother's death she leaves London and the man she loves to return to the dreary village where her father lives in order to comfort him and help out with his antique business which is on the brink of financial ruin. Dressed as Marilyn Monroe, she appears in a whimsical video that rapidly becomes a YouTube sensation drawing thousands of fans to the village. Suddenly, she is the fixation of her adoring fans and under the guidance of an unscrupulous talent agent sees a way out of her financial troubles and a promise of new prosperity for the village. Her decisions bring changes to her life and the lives of those around her--but is the change for the better?

In this short novel Talli Roland tells a blithe tale about when ordinary people are confronted with big changes. The storytelling is skillful and told with humor and heart. The characters are portrayed realistically with no airbrushing or cosmetic cover ups--we see the good and the bad and love or detest them for who and what they are. These are adults doing grown up things, but with an innocence that almost charmed the pants off of me. Oh, don't worry, my pants stayed on all the while that I was reading since there is nothing overly steamy in this book. The book for the most has little to offend most readers.

The message in the book is a good one portrayed in an entertaining way. The story deals with people with empty spaces in their lives that need filling. Roland examines how people try to fill the empty places by living vicariously through the lives of others on YouTube and reality TV. As the characters in this story begin to realize the importance of accepting self and pursuing ones dreams, they gain awareness of how the past can cast a shadow on the present and stand in the way of the future. Some of the characters are sweet while a few not so much. Synchronous circumstances bring an assortment of people together in a place where dreams are fulfilled in unexpected ways.

The book is not without flaws. There is an abruptness in the continuity of some of the events in the novel, but it allows for fast pacing. This is an easy read that is uplifting and funny. The story drives home the positive message of acceptance of self and living life instead of just watching others live theirs. In the end we understand that just watching Willow Watts is not as meaningful as being Willow Watts. An important message for all of us.

I don't typically read anything that might be labeled "chick lit", but I really did enjoy this book. I'm not even sure that it is fair to put the limits of the "chick lit" label on the book. My recommendation is read WATCHING WILLOW WATTS and decide for yourself. For me it was darn good reading.

Yvonne -- I thank you for your continued support. You've been here with me almost from the beginning.

Teresa -- I'm not sure what exactly "chick lit" would encompass, but Talli's book is fun for anyone and I wouldn't want to limit readers with a label.

Bish -- This was my first read of Catcher after hearing about it for so many years. I can't say that I was overly impressed but I didn't dislike it. I do think how we perceive things in later years is much different than we saw them as teens.

Clarissa - Willow is a quick easy read. Go for it!

Talli -- I wasn't sure what to expect from Catcher either. It was not a racy as I had expected but I guess for its time it was pretty radical. Congratulations on all the great reviews Willow has been receiving. It is well deserving and hope you sell a ton.

LG -- I will finish Atwood's book. It is an interesting concept, but it reads slow for me. But it's not bad by any means.

Kelly -- I remember you reading that book--it came out not too long before we were on tour. Susan and I also bought a copy at that time. She read it but never really said much about it. Over the years I kept looking at it on the bookshelf at my mother's house when I would visit there and finally took it with me when I went to visit in August. I still have a lot of books at my mother's house. Thanks for the comment and I wish you much success with your blog and writing endeavors to come.

Lisa M-- I totally missed the movie of Handmaid's Tale. Guess I should put it on my to watch list.

In addition to your many talents, you could proudly add book reviewer amongst them! Great review that I especially enjoyed reading from a man's perspective! I look forward to reading "Willow" and I won't be able to stop smiling thinking about how you kept your pants on! Julie

Julie -- Thanks for your kind words about my book reviewing. I hope you will enjoy WWW as much as I did.

Carol --The book is depressing in tone, but it certainly didn't depress me. I don't think I could find a fiction that would make me feel depressed. Since it is an acclaimed book I feel that Atwood's novel is worth completing and it does paint an interesting vision of a future world possibility. Talli's book was a nice way to break up the darkness of Atwood.

Damon -- Thanks!

Alex -- I guess this may have been my first chick lit (at least that I recall reading) and now that I know what it's like it may not be my last. But I still might argue that labeling this book for chicks could limit other readers who might be mislead by the label.

Ciara -- Talli is pretty darn special as a good blog friend who co-hosted Blogging from A to Z with me. And thank you for the well-wishes.

Nice review man these sound like books I should be reading some time in the future. I'm a new follower, and a new blogger sort of as well. I've only been doing this thing for a month or so but I really enjoy being able to express my opinions and stuff so I've took to the whole blogging thing pretty well. It would be cool if you could maybe read a few of my blogs, even to offer some kind of critiquing on the way I blog. I know my blog's my blog, but I also know it's not perfect and would appreciate some tips from an accomplished blogger like yourself :)

Regardless I'm following your stuff anyway for more hopefully interesting and informative posts and I'll try read some more of your blogs currently posted while I'm at it.

Talli's book in is my Kindle queue - I like her blog "voice" so I'm sure I will like it, but appreciate the heads up. I also really, really respect that you didn't sugarcoat the flaws you saw just because you were a friend.

The Handmaid's Tale is indeed very dark, but masterful in its sensory details ans storytelling, and the ending, IMO, is quite hopeful. Catcher in the Rye I found hard to relate to, p'rhaps because I've never been an angry young man.

Waffles -- You might especially enjoy Catcher in the Rye since it is more of a book that a man your age might relate to. Good luck with the blogging.

La Vie-- Thanks!

Dianne --Hard to believe it's only been two years. I feel like I've been blogging much longer.

Golden Eagle -- Thank you for stopping.

Beverly -- Catcher felt dated to me and almost innocent in today's climate of youthful rebellion. Now an angry young man would be probably violent, perhaps a gang member, and would probably use much worse language.

Happy Second Birthday, Arlee. You're a true wunderkind :) This is now time to start learning to talk and to stop pooping in your diapers :P And stop juggling with your pacifiers, you're a big boy now :P

Nice review! I normally don't like “chic lit” either but have read enough positive reviews that I'm going to give this one a look. And like you said, maybe it shouldn't be categorized that way after all.

Okay, I was just about to pick up Catcher in the Rye, but now I'm a go for WWW. I've been seeing positive sniglets all over about it. I need something quick and funny. Thanks for the rec. Happy Blogosversary, Lee.

I'm not sure why Catcher is so renown. I guess it was just so radical in its time that it gained a reputation for that. It was good, but I'm not sure that it was find an easy time being published if it had been written in our day. Unless of course Holden was a vampire, werewolf, wizard, or something like that.

Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

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A juggler of words and phrases. My main blog is Tossing It Out. The focus blog for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge can now be found at a-to-zchallenge.com where updates will be posted until the event in April begins.
Wrote By Rote is about memoir writing.
A Few Words is my Sunday contemplation blog.
A Faraway View is about dreams. Pick what you like or look at them all. I love blogging!